Your Touch

by

Jeremy Harper

Disclaimer – Ranma ½ is the creation of Rumiko Takahashi and is used without permission.

Chapter 7 – Gentle Recovery

When Shampoo finally left, taking her copy of her village newspaper with her, Ranma heaved out a great sigh, letting his head fall back on his pillow and covering his eyes with the heels of his hands. "I should have left her in that damn garden," he grumbled. "Shoulda left Pink and Link too. Chee..."

Akane laughed at his morose tone. "You don't mean that."

"Well... no, I guess not." He grumbled a bit as he shifted on his futon, uncomfortable in the casts on his legs. "Still, I'm getting tired of helping people out and having it come back to bite me on the ass. I mean, I should know better, but I keep on doing it. You'd think I'd have learned by now."

"You help people because you can't help it. You're a nice guy."

"I thought you said I was a jerk."

"You are a jerk. But you can also be very nice when you want to. You're a walking contradiction, Ranma." Akane giggled. "That's what makes you so interesting."

Ranma grimaced. "Thanks, I think."

She giggled at him again. "I guess you're regretting saving me as well, right now."

"Never!" Ranma said with a fierceness that surprised the both of them. "I'll always save you, Akane, if you need me to."

Akane stared at him intensely for a few moments before smiling fondly. She reached out and ran her slim fingers through his unruly hair. Ranma blushed. He had grown closer to his fiancee in the past months since Ryugenzawa, holding hands with her often or hugging her when they were alone and unobserved, but for some reason he could not articulate why the act of Akane stroking his hair felt more intimate than even an embrace. A shiver ran down his spine and his eyes grew heavy, the annoyance caused by Shampoo's visit dissolving, leaving behind a pleasant lassitude. He yawned. Akane shuffled closer to him, gently taking hold of his head. Before he could say anything his head was on her lap.

"Akane?"

"Hush, Ranma," she said quietly. "Take a nap. I don't mind. You heal quicker when you sleep."

Ranma did not argue. Her lap felt very soft and much more comfortable than his pillow. He rested his cheek against her thighs and inhaled. "You smell good, Akane," he whispered as he closed his eyes. Akane blushed, and started to stroke his hair again.

She watched him sleep, feeling soothed by the steady rhythm of his breathing. He looked peaceful, the lines of irritation marking his face when Shampoo had shown up to tell him what Pink and Link had said about him now gone. She ran her hand along the side of his face, caressing his cheek with a thumb, tracing the line of his jaw with fingertips. Ranma let out a soft sigh. Cat-like, he rubbed his face against the palm of her hand. Akane smiled. It was amazing how much better he looked after only a few days of recuperation. Dr. Tofu had said that he would be able to remove Ranma's casts sometime next week and the swelling of his lips had gone down significantly. She carefully brushed her thumb over his lips and he murmured in response.

Suddenly Akane's throat felt very tight as a gentle churning sensation started in her stomach. An urge to bend down and press her own lips against his swelled in her heart, fierce and almost overwhelming in its demand. She often wondered when this new relationship of theirs would evolve to the point where they would kiss. She thought about it often, especially when she daydreamed alone in her room, trying to imagine what it would feel like to be kissed by Ranma when he was aware of his actions and she was ready to accept his affections. There had been a few times recently where, after a lingering hug, she thought he would try, but something would always stop him. She enjoyed holding hands with him, hugging him, cuddling up next to him when watching television and no one else was around, but neither of them seemed ready to take the next step in their relationship.

Akane nibbled her lower lip in thought. Though the position was awkward, she began to bend her head down towards Ranma's face. She covered the distance between them slowly. She stopped, swallowed deeply and straightened up with a sigh. No, she would not steal a kiss from him while he slept. It would not be fair to him. She smiled gently and caressed his hair again, trailing her fingers down to his pig-tail, gently taking hold of it.

She spent the rest of the afternoon with Ranma's head on her lap, content to watch her fiance sleep.

Author's Notes – Thanks again to PurseMonger for taking the time to pre-read and proof my work, and for offering feedback and advice.